Alarming Pakistan Population Summit 2025: Powerful Insights Reveal Why Political Will Is Missing
The Pakistan Population Summit 2025 highlights missing political will, economic pressures, and urgent reforms needed to control rapid population growth. Key leaders warn that Pakistan cannot meet SDGs unless immediate action is taken.
The Pakistan Population Summit—organised by DawnMedia—aims to build a shared national vision for sustainable population management. With Pakistan crossing 241 million people and adding 4–5 million individuals each year, experts agree that population growth is outpacing the country’s economic, educational, and health infrastructure.
Pakistan is now the 5th most populous country in the world, with a 2.40% growth rate, the highest in South Asia. According to official projections, the nation will require 104 million new jobs by 2040—an indicator of deepening socioeconomic pressure.
Mushahid Hussain Warns of Missing Political Will
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed issued one of the strongest statements at the Pakistan Population Summit, arguing that the real obstacle is not resources but political will. He stressed that Pakistan cannot develop unless population planning becomes a central governmental priority.
His remarks aligned with concerns raised by other national leaders, who noted that policies exist—but implementation remains weak.
Government Leaders Call for Policy Reforms
PML-N MNA Shaista Pervaiz stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken up the challenge of addressing fast population growth. She emphasised the need for integrated reforms in health, family planning, and education.
Meanwhile, PTI’s Taimur Jhagra called for revising the NFC Award, arguing that provinces require proportional financial allocations to execute meaningful population and development programs.
Dr Maleeha Lodhi: Population Not a Government Priority
Former UN Representative Dr Maleeha Lodhi criticised successive governments for sidelining population management. She highlighted that the prime minister was scheduled to speak at the event but did not attend—symbolising a lack of urgency.
She added that Pakistan’s human development indicators are collectively declining:
- Literacy
- Health outcomes
- Poverty levels
- Gender parity
Dr Lodhi warned that without population control, Pakistan’s future workforce and economic wellbeing will suffer greatly.
Raza Rabbani: Real Issues Ignored
PPP veteran Raza Rabbani stressed the need to stop political distractions and focus on real issues such as population, development, and human capital. He criticised the disproportionate allocation of the national budget to defence and debt servicing.
He also warned that limited political inclusion for youth creates frustration and disconnection among Pakistan’s largest demographic group.
Human Development Crisis Highlighted
During a detailed presentation, Rabbani revealed:
- Youth ratio increased to 26% (2023 census)
- Skill shortages remain severe
- Women’s labour participation remains critically low
He emphasised that the situation demands urgent corrective action at all levels of state and society. He recalled a Supreme-Court-mandated task force that proposed 33 actionable recommendations, but implementation has stalled.
Lessons From Bangladesh & Indonesia
Statisticians and population experts repeatedly referenced Bangladesh as a regional model. Professor Mehtab Karim called Bangladesh’s progress a “miracle,” noting:
- Life expectancy increased by 15 years
- Mortality dropped from 10% to 2%
- Fertility reduced to two children per woman
In contrast, Pakistan remains above three children per woman.
Indonesia’s representative Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma shared how his country used mass media campaigns and policy discipline to drive family planning, with strong male involvement.
Experts Warn of a ‘Demographic Disaster’
Dr Rashid Amjad described Pakistan’s current situation as a demographic disaster, not a demographic dividend. He explained that Pakistan faces a double jeopardy:
- Youth bulge with rising unemployment
- High fertility rates creating more dependents
He noted that Pakistan still lacks accurate population statistics due to inconsistent census practices—a fundamental barrier to planning.
Education, Youth, & Family Planning Proposals
Multiple speakers recommended meaningful and actionable solutions, including:
Adding family planning concepts to school curricula
Teaching “happy, healthy, smaller families” from primary level.
Creating a Demographic Dividend Facilitation Council
A high-powered advisory body to accelerate reforms.
Strengthening health outreach programs
UNFPA’s Dr Luay Shabaneh compared Pakistan’s “modest” outreach to Egypt and Iran—both of which invest aggressively in reproductive health awareness.
Economic empowerment of women
Increasing female workforce participation is essential for long-term population stability.
Conclusion
The Pakistan Population Summit has opened an urgent national debate. Pakistan’s growing population is not merely a statistic—it is a defining factor in the country’s future stability, security, and prosperity. With rapid growth straining education, health, employment, and food systems, the summit’s message is unmistakable: Pakistan must act now.
Unless political will strengthens, policies are implemented, and human capital investment becomes a top priority, Pakistan risks missing its development targets, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The summit ends with a collective call for courage, cooperation, and long-term planning—before the demographic opportunity turns into an irreversible crisis.
